Ephel Dúath

The western mountain-fence of Mordor, lying between it and its ancient enemy Gondor, in which stood the tower of Minas Morgul.

Notes

1

The Elvish names of mountain ranges typically contain the word ered, the plural of orod, 'mountain' (as in Ered Gorgoroth, Ered Lithui, Ered Luin, and many other examples). The ephel in Ephel Dúath literally means 'outer fence' (as opposed to the inner 'fence' of the Morgai, presumably). This use of this word for a mountain range is unique, but it does also appear with a more literal meaning in Ephel Brandir, the name of the stockade on Amon Obel in Brethil.